New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-01
BURIED ALIVE IN A TRENCH.
AMAN sMoTHERrD BY FALLING EARTH-HI'

MAN sMoTHERFD BY FALLING EARTH-HIs COM
PANIoN SLIGHTLY INJURED.
Israel spinssrn, q mi.lner, has just completed the
erection Of four-story building at No. 81 Divislon-st
Yesterday workmen engaged la excavating arench
frou the in the street to the new building for the
purpose OF laying down drain. The trench was about
ten feet deep and narrow. and as the SOL
was OF a sandy nature, both sides were shored
I'D with planks to prevent them cavns In he work
was being done by Gerald Fitzgibbon plumber OF No.
100 Canast and under the Immediate supervision
OF Andrew Maonsy. one OF Mr.. FitzgsrAlds worknen'
Mslonsy Patrick Bsevy aud Thomas Meehan we're at
work in the trench yesterday afternoon MeehaA was
engaged digging sort Of tunnel under the sidewalk
and Malonsy was close behind him. the
trench being too narrow to permit them
to work eide by side. About $3.50 O'Clock
Q train ran over the Second Avenue Elevated Read
which passes through that part OF Divison-st. and
violently shook the sidewalk under which Neehsn was
at work. Then without the slightest warning the bank
the dswalk fell out Into the trench, completely
covering Meehan and buryins Maoney up TO his waist
Beayy who witnessed the accident 10 Maoney's
sistance and soon extricated him. when the TWO men
turned their attention to digging Meehan out
But the OF tue tire eh preven,ed them from
working together and could make little head
way. The that man had been buried alive spread
through tue peghborheod and Ia shsrt time crow OF
women and children gathered abe tue 'rench sha
completely blocked up the sTre o,sIs
quickly the spot and turned their attention
who endeavoriDg to extrlcate Meehsh A. besVy
and MaloDcy kept digging without reaching the
buried excite Of the crowd became intense
Women With ba0es in their arms crowded sbont ne
trench and watched the diggers with baed breath whie
IL REQUIRED all the efforts OF the TWO policemen 10
keep excited men from jumping in aud ASSISTING
In the rescue Officer Ryan sent To GouVerhrur
Hospital for an ambulance which after dash
ing up and as way through The crowd with
Changing bells. greatly added TO The confusion When
Breyy and Malopey had been at work Tor some twenty
minutes they succeeded in uncoyering Mechans face it
greatly discOlorsd and 1t appeared though the
dead. His body WAS quickly uncovered to the
waist. whcp difficulty was encountered
the OF the trench II was impessl-
bic for any get near enough TO Arehan 10 t hn
ont 20 a rope passed under his arms and ne was
then raised the street The ambulance surgeon exam
ined him and pronounced him dead HIS holy was taken
to his home and the coroBer infornet OF tae
Meehsn thirty three years old and nved
AT No III Hulbarry-st When The excitement had
some What subsidized it found that Ma onsy had sus-
tanned some slight bruises but he able TO 90 10 hs
home without assistance 10 WIS said last night that no
one was TO blame for the accident The 81 les or ne
trench were properly shored up and ali the Ordinary
precautions had been taken TO guard against JUST sucn
q accident as TOOK place